Oneida brings back Sherwood Forest this weekend in 'Robin Hood: The Next Generation' (video)

ONEIDA -- The Oneida Drama Club will bring a new chapter in the tale of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest to the stage Friday and Saturday with their staging of "Robin Hood: The Next Generation."

The Heroine Lady Robin, portrayed by senior Susan Owens, is the daughter of fabled Robin Hood of Loxley and Maid Marian. As she reaches adulthood, her parents devise a tournament to find a husband for the young princess. Unknown to the couple, Lady Robin has plans of her own and enters the tournament to prove that she doesn't need a man to help her rule the kingdom.

Owens has been part of community theater for years. This is her fifth show at the high school.

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"It was so much fun doing some of these scenes," Owens said. "The fighting is my favorite part of this show. It's a blast."

Lady Robin faces various foes throughout the show, including Prince Jarad played by senior Tyler Colvin.

Prince Jarad feels a strange love-at-first-sight attraction to Lady Robin, although he doesn't realize she is a woman.

"I fall in love with her while I think she is a man," Colvin said. "My character is confused throughout most of the show. He calls it an 'inexplicable draw' and repeats that phrase quite a bit."

This is Colvin's first show, and although it's a comedy, his serious character is a bit of a challenge for the class clown.

"We have about 30 kids this year," said OHS teacher Adam Litwak, director. "This show is a great experience for our younger kids because we have a good senior group that's been in theater for a long time running."

"This isn't like most of Oneida's Fall shows," Owens said. "It's very kid-friendly and comical and the new story line is really interesting."

Lady Robin and Sherwood Forest will take the stage at the Oneida High School Auditorium Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 general admission.